Freedom of Information Act.

Freedom of Information Act.

Its decision is currently under review in the office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

At the time of my last letter to the Rappahannock News, the Park Service claimed that it was essential to acquire 25 acres of land adjoining the existing park boundaries because the lease of the existing lot could be terminated at any time.

Since then, the park has entered into a new five-year lease of the existing lot. At least for the next five yeai;s, there is no need for it to acquire more land.

Not the facts

The park is not playing straight with us.

• Although it knows that it is prohibited by law from acquiring additional lands outside its existing boundaries, the park seeks to get around the law by the artifice of having the land bought, with federal funds, by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, which will then give or lease it to the park.

• .Although 63 residents have signed the enclosed petition, the Park Service insists that the new parking lot is acceptable to local residents.

• Although they know that there are serious environmental, wetland and archaeological issues regarding this land, it refused to provide this information to the citizens, as required by law.

• Without any information being provided to the citizens or providing them with an opportunity to comment, they are negotiating to obtain the land it wants outside existing park boundaries, claiming that local residents support the establishment of a new parking lot, wbjen they know full well that loial support has always been limited to facilities located inside existing park boundaries.

The citizens of Rappahannock County have never supported any expansion of the park, whether by a parking lot or otherwise.

The Park Service is not being open with us. It should be.

Peter A. Hornbostel

Nethers